Folding table



May 29, 1934- A. l.. JoHNsoN E1' AL 1,960,586

FOLDING TABLE Filed March 27, 1933 iid/l M e? M tifo/0772@ Patented May 29, 1934 FOLDING TABLE Arthur L. Johnson, Oak Park, and Henry G. McComh, Chicago, Ill.; said McComb assignor to said Johnson Application March 27,

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in folding tables; and more particularly to the type adapted especially for use as a typewriter table, and also as a reading table, sewing table,

5 and the like.

One of the main objects of this invention is to provide a folding table which is arranged to have comparatively great stability and strength, and which at the same time is very economical in manufacture.

Another object is to provide an economically constructed table of this kind which includes considerable storage space, preferably arranged in the form of a plurality of readily accessible compartments.

A further object of this invention is to provide a typewriter table which has its top portion arranged to provide considerable storage Space, and has its legs and the foldable mounting 20 means therefor arranged to provide comparatively great stability, and whichat the same time can be constructed and placed on the market at a very low price.

These and various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which the invention is shown in its preferred form, it being understood that various other arrangements and forms of -Sl construction may be resorted. to for carrying out the objects and purposes of this invention.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a folding table embodying our invention.` Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view thereof, showing two of the legs folded, and the other two in the open position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View, taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail View of the-cooperating link and slotted means used in this construction.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The drawing illustrates our invention in its preferred form of construction, comprising a table-top or top member 10, which is preferably rectangular in shape for a typewriter table, and supporting legs 1l mounted thereunder, which are preferably arranged so as to diverge or extend at a slant outwardly from the top to pro- 155,; may consist of suitable laminated wood or sim- 1933, Serial N0. 662,906

(Cl. Ll5-1l) ilar fibrous material. Spacing elements or partition bars 13 are mounted between the panels for spacing them apart and securing them in position, thereby providingl a light but strong truss-construction, and at the same time providing` several compartments for retaining or storing a considerable amount of material therein, which is found very desirable when used as a typewriter table, reading table, or the like. Said partition bars extend from the front to the rear of the spaced panels and leave the front and rear ends of the compartments open, as indicated, while notches 14 are preferably also provided in the front parts of the panels, so that material, for example, paper, books,l and the like, can be readily Withdrawn from the compartment.

To prevent the paper, books, or other material from being extended or pushed beyond the rear openings between the panels, stop elements 16 are mounted in said openings, the same may consist of simple strips or bars of material which are readily secured on one of the panels in said rear openings, to more or less restrict or close the same.

The legs 1l are hingedly mounted beneath the top so that they may be folded longitudinally thereof, as indicated in Fig. 2; and the hinge means for swingably mounting the legs preferably comprise a yoke member 20 which is secured under the bottom panel 12 to extend at a slight angle to the transverse axis of the top, as shown in Fig. 2. A bar 21 is journalled in the depending arms 22 of Vthe yoke, and the leg is secured to the outer end of said bar, adjacent the corner of the top. A brace rod` 23 has one end pivotally secured to the inner end of the bar, and its other end connected to a bracket member 24.

Coengaging slotted means and link means are provided on the top and on the legs, whereby to hold the legs rigidly in their diverging open position, and to facilitate convenient folding thereof under the top. This means preferably includes a slotted member 25 secured under the top at an angle from the longitudinal axis thereof, and the slot 26 provided therein has its inner end slanting toward the inner longitudinal center line of the top. A rod or link 27 has one end pivotally attached to a pair of lugs or yoke arms 28 on bracket member 24, and its opposite free end portion extends through slot 26 and is provided with a bent end or nger 29 which is slidable in member 25. Said member 25 is preferably constructed from a pair of angle bars 31 and 32 which have straps or yokes 33 secured over the ends thereof to fasten them in spaced relation underneath the lower panel, as best shown in Fig. 4. A notch 34 is provided at the outer end of slot 26, and a spring 35 is mounted in member 25 to engage the bent end 29 of link 23 and retain it in said notch whereby to hold the legs positively in their divergent open position. A reinforcing metal plate 36 is secured to the panel, above bent end 29 while in the open position, so that the bent end will bear against said metal plate and thus prevent indenting or wearing the softer material of the panel, which is of wood or the like.

This form of table construction, as illustrated and described above, provides a very useful table comprising a strong truss-like top which has considerable room for storing material therein and is very light in weight and yet durable, and is also economical in manufacture. The spread legs and the mounting means thereon also provides a very rigid table construction possessing great stability, so as to avoid any unsteadiness or upsetting thereof. This invention thus produces a table of great utility, which is especially useful as a typewriter table, and also as a reading table, sewing table, and the like.

We claim as our invention:

1. A folding table comprising a top adapted for supporting a typewriter, legs having hinge means at their upper ends whereby they are swingably mounted to the top to be foldable in pairs thereunder, a slotted member includ- .i ing a pair of spaced bars and means embracing them for securing the same under said top for each leg to provide a slot extending longitudinally of the top and slanting inwardly toward the center thereof and being provided with a notch at the outer end, a link having a hook at its free end and being provided with a yoke at its other end whereby it is pivoted to the leg, the free end extending through said slot and the hook being slidable in said member to limit their relative movement, and a spring in said member to press against said hook and hold the link in the notch, whereby the leg is maintained rmly in its divergent open position.

2. A folding table comprising a top having legs provided with hinge means whereby they notch provided adjacent the outward end of the slot, and a link having one end pivoted to a leg and having its other end slidable in said slot to engage in said notch, a hook on said slidable end to move within said angle bars and limit the movement of said link, and means in said member to hold said hook in the notch and. retain the legs firmly in their open position.

3. A folding table comprising a top having legs thereunder, hinge for each leg including a yoke secured under the top, a bar pivoted in said yoke, a leg secured on said bar to turn therewith in said yoke, spaced angle bars and yoke means securing them underneath said top and providing a slot, and link means mounted on said legs and engaging through the slot, whereby the legs are conveniently foldable under the top and are also held securely in their open position.

4. A folding table comprising a top having legs thereunder, hinge means for each leg including a yoke secured under the top, a bar pivoted in said yoke, a leg secured adjacent one end of said bar to turn therewith in the yoke, a brace element slanting from the other end of said bar toward the intermediate part of said leg, a slotted member including a pair of spaced bars and yoke means securing them under the top, and a link pivotally mounted on the leg to engage the member through said slot, whereby to enable convenient folding of the legs and to hold the legs firmly in the open position.

5. A folding table comprising a rectangular top having legs thereunder, hinge means for each leg including a yoke secured under the top at an angle to its lateral axis, means pivoted in said yoke and secured to the upper end of the leg, to enable folding of the leg substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the top, a slotted member including a pair of spaced bars provided with inwardly extending flanges also strap means for mounting them under said top to provide a slot extending longitudinally thereof and slanting inwardly toward the center of the top also being provided with a notch at the outer end, and a link pivoted to the leg and engaging through the slot in said member, said link having means on its end to engage behind said member and limit the links movement, whereby the legs are readily foldable under the top and are also held firmly in an outwardly diverging position while open.

ARTHUR L. JOHNSON. HENRY G. MCCOMB. 

